Release Year: 2004
-
The Incredibles
Every so often an action film comes along that refuses to be filed away neatly, and The Incredibles is exactly that kind of stubborn, memorable outlier. Even the marketing knew what it had: the tagline “Super strength can’t carry a family.” sets the mood before a single frame plays. The setup is straightforward enough on…
-
House of Flying Daggers
There’s a reason House of Flying Daggers keeps resurfacing in conversations about the best action films of its era: it simply refuses to be dated. The setup is straightforward enough on paper: In 9th century China, a corrupt government wages war against a rebel army called the Flying Daggers. A romantic warrior breaks a beautiful…
-
Howl’s Moving Castle
There’s a reason Howl’s Moving Castle keeps resurfacing in conversations about the best adventure films of its era: it simply refuses to be dated. Even the marketing knew what it had: the tagline “Love Comes First.” sets the mood before a single frame plays. At its core, the plot goes like this: Sophie, a young…
-
Kill Bill: Vol. 2
If you’ve never given Kill Bill: Vol. 2 a fair shot, 2004 is as good a year as any to fix that — Quentin Tarantino’s film has aged into something like a cult favorite. The film’s own tagline — “The bride is back for the final cut.” — tells you almost everything about the tone…
-
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Every so often a film shows up that seems built for exactly one mood, and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”, released in 2004, is one of those titles. It is the kind of film that tends to outlast whatever else came out the same year. The marketing leaned on the line “You can erase…
-
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Word of mouth is a strange thing, and “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” from 2004 is exactly the kind of film that earns it one recommendation at a time. It is the kind of film that tends to outlast whatever else came out the same year. Everything the film wants you to feel is…
-
Napoleon Dynamite
There is a reason “Napoleon Dynamite” keeps coming up in conversations about comedy filmmaking since its 2004 release. That reputation, as it turns out, is well earned. Everything the film wants you to feel is right there in its tagline: “He’s out to prove he’s got nothing to prove.” At the center of it are…
-
Mean Girls
When Mark Waters sat down to make “Mean Girls”, the goal was clearly to deliver something that sticks with an audience long after the credits roll. It is the kind of film that tends to outlast whatever else came out the same year. Everything the film wants you to feel is right there in its…
-
The Notebook
Some movies announce exactly what they are within the first few minutes. “The Notebook” (2004) is refreshingly upfront about its ambitions. It is easy to see why it keeps getting recommended long after its initial release. Everything the film wants you to feel is right there in its tagline: “Behind every great love is a…